# Natterer's Bat (*Myotis nattereri*) Natterer's bats are small, friendly bats that love to eat insects. They have soft fur and big ears, which help them hear very well in the dark. These bats are great at flying and can be seen at dusk as they hunt for food. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Natterer's Bat](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Myotis_nattereri_%282862347369%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Gilles San Martin from Namur, Belgium, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Myotis_nattereri_%282862347369%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Natterer's Bat has fluffy, grey-brown fur on its back with a contrasting white belly and a pinkish face. It has long, narrow ears and a unique fringe of stiff bristles along the edge of its tail membrane, which helps differentiate it. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Chiroptera - **Family:** Vespertilionidae - **Genus:** Myotis ## Interesting facts - Female Natterer's Bats often gather in large maternity colonies to raise their single pup. - Natterer's Bats can live longer than 20 years, which is ancient for a tiny mammal! - Natterer's Bats sometimes eat spiders, making them one of the few bat species to regularly prey on arachnids! - This bat can snatch sleeping insects right off leaves and bark without landing! ## Special abilities - **Whispering Hunter:** Natterer's Bat uses quiet echolocation or listens for prey, helping it sneakily snatch insects directly from leaves and twigs. - **Acrobatic Flight:** Natterer's Bat has incredible maneuverability in flight, allowing it to hover and turn sharply to catch insects mid-air or off surfaces. - **Fringe Finder:** Natterer's Bat has a fringe of bristles on its tail membrane, possibly helping scoop up insects or aiding precise flight. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 4.1-5.8 cm - **Wingspan:** 24-28 cm - **Weight:** 0.007-0.012 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 30 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 50-60 days ## Diet & Feeding This tiny hunter loves to eat a variety of insects, especially moths and beetles. - **Primary Foods:** moths, beetles, spiders, flies, lacewings - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Eurasian Eagle-owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-eagle-owl) (*Bubo bubo*) — A large nocturnal bird of prey that can hunt bats. - **Eaten by:** [Domestic Cat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-cat) (*Felis catus*) — Feral and domestic cats are opportunistic predators of bats. - **Hunts:** Lined Click Beetle (*Agriotes lineatus*) — A common beetle prey item for the Natterer's Bat. - **Shelter:** [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) — Uses tree hollows and crevices in old oak trees for roosting. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Echolocation](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/echolocation): Echolocation is a biological sonar used by animals to navigate, hunt, and communicate by emitting sound waves and interpreting the echoes. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Bats are usually shy and won't bother you, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Natterer's Bat? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Natterer's Bat? 4.1-5.8 cm ### What is Natterer's Bat's wingspan? 24-28 cm ### How much does Natterer's Bat weigh? 0.007-0.012 kg ### How long does Natterer's Bat live? 15-20 years ### How fast can Natterer's Bat move? 30 km/h ### What does Natterer's Bat eat? This tiny hunter loves to eat a variety of insects, especially moths and beetles. ### Where is Natterer's Bat usually found? Forests ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Natterer's Bat: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/natterers-bat)